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With deep regret we have to announce the passing of the following members:
Candy, N.S. (Listed in October
2003 Odds 'n Ends) Postwar, Noel obtained
his qualifications as a draftsman and joined the PMG's Dept, remaining
with the Dept. and its successors until retirement. Noel was a staunch
family man and there were great family holidays in outback areas. His
other interests included music, photography, gardening, flying and flight
simulator activities. He had an early interest in computers and saw their
immense potential to change his children's lives. ************************* Edwards, L.G. Llew, who joined the Association
in 1962, was a country boy born in Ballarat and he spent much of his early
life in Maryborough where he attended the High School and was a schoolmate
of fellow Odd Bod Alex Hurse. ********************************* Fielder, T.L. ************************* Goss, I.E. Ian Goss passed away on 4 December 2003 after a long period of ill health; he was 85. Born in Camberwell, he spent
his early life in the Learmonth district near Ballarat and went to school
at Ballarat Grammar. Prewar Ian worked in his family's hotel business
and served with the Militia forces, joined the RAAF in 1940 and trained
in Australia and Canada as an A/G. He was posted to the UK,
doing OTU at Lichfield and then Moreton-in-Marsh, and finally to 40 Sqn
on Wellingtons. He was in the first "1000 Bomber" raid on Cologne
then, early in 1942, the squadron was sent out to the Middle East for
the North African campaign. The crew was shot down and Ian, who was one
of the survivors, was cared for in a monastery. Handed to Allied forces,
he was returned to UK for instructional duty at Lichfield and to his English
wife, Nina and their twin sons. Postwar Ian together with
Nina had a number of businesses including hardware and a guest house which
they ran for many years. In later years he worked for an electronics firm
until retirement. ***************************** Peach, R.G. Bob passed away, age 80 on 3 January 2004 after many years of battling with ill health, due mainly to a dreadful car accident in 1969 in which he and wife Helen were involved. Helen's injuries were apparently not serious but Bob suffered a shattered shoulder, 2 fractured legs and internal injuries. In later years Bob developed
serious heart problems also. He joined the Association in 1958. Bob spent his early years
in Brunswick attending local primary school, University High and Melbourne
Grammar. From a very early age he had an interest in the theatre and had
parts in radio serials, and this disrupted his schooling considerably.
In 1940 he left school for a job as a junior announcer with Radio 3SR,
Shepparton followed by posts at 3DB and the ABC as a staff announcer. In 1941 Bob joined the RAAF,
but spent some time in the Army while awaiting his aircrew call-up. He
was selected for pilot training at Western Junction but failed the solo
test and was remustered W/Ag, trained in Canada and ended up in Transport
Command with 147 Sqn. Support work to the British Army delivering supplies,
bringing out wounded and dropping agents ensued. Towards the end of the
war the crew was posted to 243 Sqn for duty in the Far East in support
of the Pacific Fleet. Postwar, Bob left the ABC
and did freelance acting and producing in radio plays for various production
houses e.g. Caltex Radio Theatre and Lux Radio Theatre. Later he ran his
own production house, dabbled in radio and television production for a
large advertising group, wrote for and acted in several television series
and dramas. In 1967 he was the first on-air presenter for the ABC "AM"
programme and in 1974, transferred to the Dramas and Features department
as Writer/Producer. During his distinguished
career Bob received a number of prestigious awards as an actor, writer/producer
including the Macquarie Award for Best Starring Role of the Year (1951)
and the International Prix Italia for his documentary about an 11 year
old deaf boy, "The World of J.K." (1974). Over the next 20 years
Bob served as a Jury Member of the Prix Futura Berlin and the Prix Italia
and was Australia's representative at the annual International Feature
Conference. Sadly in 1974 Bob's son
Damian was killed in a car accident but he is survived by Helen, his wife
of 55 years, his children Tim, Mary and Emma, their partners and his 6
grandchildren. We are grateful to Mary for supplying the information. ************************** Wadham, C.E.G. Geoff, who joined the Association
in 1959, passed away on 14 October 2003; he was aged 82. Geoff spent his
early life and schooling in the St Kilda area and attended Melbourne Boys
High School; on leaving school he worked for Commonwealth Oil Refineries
(COR). In 1940 he joined the RAAF,
training in Australia and Canada as a W/AG. Posted to the UK his crew
was sent to join 108 Sqn in the Middle East on Wellingtons, night bombing;
later the crew went to India to join 215 Sqn, still on "Wimpies".
Geoff returned to Australia in 1944 and subsequently saw service in the
South West Pacific flying in Liberators with 528 Bomber Group, USAAF. Postwar Geoff returned to
work with COR for a short time then decided to study Pharmacy under the
CRTS. Two years after graduating he and wife Shirley opened a pharmacy
in Drouin where he stayed until retirement when they moved to Sorrento. Geoff's interests outside
family and work included playing football with Melbourne High Old Boys
immediately postwar, later golf was a great interest. He was a Life Member
of Drouin Golf Club for all his work, and he also played bowls. He was
a long time Rotarian. Geoff is survived by Shirley, his wife of 58 years,
son Ron and daughter Cheryl, their partners and his 5 grandchildren. ************************* Waterton, W. Bill joined the Association
in 1983 and died on 3 December 2003 in his 80th year, whilst undergoing
heart surgery. He was born in Sydney and when he was 8 the family moved
to Orange, NSW to a dairy farm, where Bill lived the "country boy"
life. He left school at 14 to work in the family building business. Bill joined the RAAF in
1942 and was selected for pilot training in Australia. Posted to UK, Bill
and his English crew were sent to fly Wellingtons in 37 Sqn in the Middle
East. Later they moved on to Liberators with 37 & 178 Sqns. Bill was
"Mentioned in Despatches" for his operational service. Postwar Bill went into commercial flying, firstly with ANA and shortly after with TAA for 32 years. During his time at TAA Bill obtained a licence as a real estate agent and auctioneer and set up his own business with staff running it. Upon retirement from TAA he took a more active role in the real estate company. Never one to miss a chance, Bill did some flying for a film company making the Kingsford-Smith story, "Thousand Skies" and later the story of the 1934 Centenary Air Race. A Harvard was bought for use in the film work and Bill ended by keeping it for his own use, as he said, "especially for aerobatics" and of course for the RAAF Museum Flight; he was still flying to the end. Bill is survived by Peg, his wife of 56 years, son Bill (Qantas captain), his daughters, Sue and Madelaine, their partners and grandson Oscar. ************************* Withell, J.R. Roy died suddenly on 17
October 2003 while mowing his lawns. He was 83. Roy, who joined the Association
in 1954 (an original) was born in Northcote and was orphaned at a young
age when his parents and brother all succumbed to tuberculosis. He moved
to live with relatives in Horsham and attended Horsham High School with
the McPherson brothers, Cyril, and Odd Bod Gerald, leaving school in 1936
to work for stock agents, Thomas Young & Co. Roy joined the AIF in 1940
and served in 1st Armoured Division until 1942 when he transferred to
the RAAF, trained in Australia as a W/AG and ultimately flew in Sunderland
flying boats with 461 Sqn in UK. Postwar Roy returned to the stock agents,
later to become Dennys Lascelles, and stayed until retirement. He was
well known for his gentlemanly ways and his keen social conscience and
the amount of unpaid work he did in the Wimmera area was legendary. Secretary
of the local Stock Agents Association for 25 years, he helped the development
of the Horsham livestock markets. He was a dedicated journalist, filing
stories for the Melbourne Herald and Sun, ABC radio and 3DB and 3LK radio
networks for over 30 years as well as reporting on local council meetings
and co-authoring numerous district history books. He was a member of Horsham
Apex Club for many years. A keen sportsman including golf, cricket, football & tennis he remained true to the old Fitzroy Football Club going back to his days in Northcote. Our thanks to member Merv Longmire of Horsham who represented the Association at Roy's funeral and also to the Wimmera Mail Times for providing some of the information. Ina, Roy's wife of 53 years, died in 1991 but he is survived by his daughter, Judy, son-in-law Howard and his grandchildren, Brenna and Steven. ********************** Wright, A.W. Alan passed away in Western
Australia on 17 December 2003 after a long period of ill health and incapacity,
age 80. He joined the Assocation in 1963, was born in Melbourne and spent
his early years in the Caulfield area attending local primary schools
and Melbourne Boys' High School. He first worked in banking, and joined
the RAAF in 1942, training here as a W/AG before posting to the UK where
he joined 57 Sqn Lancs at East Kirkby. Postwar, Alan returned to the bank for a short time, then qualified as a pharmacist under the CRTS. For many years he had his
own businesses in the Huntingdale area and in his later years worked as
a locum at various pharmacies. His interests included gardening, his beloved
St Kilda F.C, freemasonry and golf, being a member of Spring Valley Golf
Club with late Odd Bod Alan Fulton, and Secretary George Smith. Odd Bod Ron Elms represented
the Association at the funeral service, and recited The Ode. Alan is survived
by Ivemae, his wife of 47 years, daughter Alex, son Peter and their partners.
We are grateful to Peter for the above information. G.V.S. |
